Río Perdido Hotel & Thermal River, Rincón de la Vieja

Pros

• The hotel's namesake comes from Río Perdido, a river known for its warm thermal water, so guests have complimentary access to its pools, one of which has volcanic mud that you can massage onto your skin.
• Besides the thermal river, the hotel also has three pools of varying temperatures that edge the main building, one of which you can swim up to Canyon Bar to order a drink and enjoy from a submerged stool.
• The circular restaurant offers al fresco dining and handcrafted cocktails with views of the surrounding forest.
• Each room is a private, sleek cabin on stilts with forest views—and some have outdoor twin showers and a soaking tub with a tap dedicated to thermal water.  
• You can enjoy a range of activities, including hiking, mountain biking, ziplining, and white water tubing, all available on the hotel grounds.

Cons

• If you want to visit the area to explore Rincón de la Vieja National Park, the hotel is an hour away from the park and its volcano, not to mention other restaurants and amenities.
• The hotel's minimum age requirement is eight. 

Additional Notes From Brittany 

After a morning soaking in Río Perdido's lovely thermal pools, I enjoyed a three-course lunch at the hotel's open-air restaurant. A pleasant breeze accompanied the views of the sprawling forest, and a few people flew through the canopy above on ziplines. As I was enjoying my delicious main course of arroz con pollo, I noticed a rustling in the tree, and out popped a howler monkey enjoying its own lunch of green leaves!

Authenticity

Though you'll be farther from the area's main attractions, the authentic feel at Río Perdido is hard to beat. You'll basically stay in a sustainably built sanctuary, and the hotel's entire aesthetic results from collaborations with local and national artists, architects, and designers, working together to blend the property into its surroundings with minimal environmental impact (note the elevated walkways and stilts bungalows are built upon). Much of the hotel's wood is sourced from nearby fallen trees, the restaurant serves locally inspired and sourced fare, and 90% of the staff are hired from nearby communities.

Location

Río Perdido's remoteness in the San Bernardo Lowlands where Río Blanco's chilly waters meet Río Perdido's hot, is part of its appeal. Still, if you have designs to go off-site (like to visit Rincon de la Vieja National Park an hour away), you'll need to have a rental car or hire a transfer to do so. The closest town is San Bernardo, about 4 miles (6 km) from the hotel's entrance. While there's little to be found here in terms of dining and shopping options, other towns like La Fortuna (not the one near Arenal), a 20-minute drive, and Guayabo, a 30-minute drive, have a greater range of choices. 

Rooms & Bathrooms

38 standalone cabins are spread out in three categories, each varying in layout and aesthetic, though all are contemporary with characterful design features, like Center Bungalows' singed hardwood accent wall. You'll find floor-to-ceiling windows, elevated—and furnished—terraces with a hammock or two, and a mix of elements like wood, pure copper, raw steel, nylon rope, and polished concrete. The smallest, most traditional type, East Bungalows, are bright with white tiles and walls, Center Bungalows are sleek with volcanic rock floors and painted black ceilings, and West Bungalows, the largest type, offer views of the Río Blanco Canyon and include an oversized tub that fills with hot or cold mineral water.

Amenities

Outside of Río Perdido's thermal springs and the running, hiking, and biking trails nearby, the hotel has three geothermal mineral pools, from warm to cool, with the in-between option connected to Canyon Bar, and the all-day thatched-roofed restaurant serving a homegrown seasonal menu. There isn't a gym, but you can break a sweat with the yoga practices offered cliffside above the river. The Río Perdido Spa has several rooms for individual treatment and a separate room for couples massage. For a remote location, the hotel is impressively well-suited for guests with limited mobility; common areas are accessible, as are two bungalows. 

Family-Friendliness

While Río Perdido isn't suitable for very young children, it welcomes families with kids over eight. The resort's activities, such as hiking and whitewater tubing, appeal to older children, and the larger Center and West Bungalows have ample space for families, accommodating up to four guests. 

Wildlife

The 1,500-acre (607 ha) canyon reserve surrounding the hotel provides some of the best on-site wildlife viewing of any hotel in the region. Agoutis, howler monkeys, and exotic birds are all Costa Rican staples that can be seen at many locations (including here). Yet Río Perdido is remote enough that you might have enough luck to spot one of the elusive ocelots or pumas known to roam the property. 

Sustainability

The hotel owners strived to develop the property without disturbing the surrounding environment using a zero-land-movement development strategy. All the buildings are atop existing geologic formations or on pylons that maintain the property's natural state as much as possible. The furniture is made from locally and sustainably sourced wood and has a unique design specific to the property.

Other Highlights

The showstopper is the mineral-rich Río Perdido and the forested land the lodge resides upon. Only the restaurant peeks above the canopy (score an outermost table for prime views), whereas all other buildings are below the treeline inviting diffused light and leafy views. Then there are the numerous trails for treks of all energy levels (to medicinal springs or through canyons to dwarf forests), a hanging bridge, and many other on-site tours and activities, from ziplining, river tubing, and mountain biking (available to the experienced) to forest bathing, mud painting, yoga (the first session is included in your stay), and meditation.